Photo: Knowledge and philosophy / CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Common Ostrich
Struthio camelus
Common Ostrich (Struthio camelus) — Ratites & Tinamous of Africa.
Found across 10 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Common Ostrich (Struthio camelus) is a member of the Struthionidae family found in Africa. Adults weigh 111 kg. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Struthioniformes
- Family Struthionidae Ostriches
- Genus Struthio
- Species camelus
Quick facts
- Weight
- 111 kg
- Diet
- Omnivores
- Family
- Struthionidae
- Order
- Struthioniformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Vulnerable
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Common Ostrich is a omnivore — it takes a broad, omnivorous diet of both plant and animal foods.
Behaviour
A bird of open scrub and shrubland, it forages mainly on the ground.
Migration
The Common Ostrich is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Common Ostrich (Struthio camelus) is a species of bird in the Struthionidae family, part of the order Struthioniformes. It is found across Africa. Its distribution covers AF w, c, e, sw.
It is a very large bird. Adults weighs around 111 kg, with a wing length of about 57.9 cm and a tail of around 30.9 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
Its mapped global range covers an estimated 8.6 million km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Common Ostrich?
The Common Ostrich is a very large bird that weighs around 111 kg.
Where does the Common Ostrich live?
The Common Ostrich is found across Africa with a range covering AF w, c, e, sw, where it favours woodland, forest and well-treed country.
What family does the Common Ostrich belong to?
The Common Ostrich (Struthio camelus) belongs to the Struthionidae family, in the order Struthioniformes.
What does the Common Ostrich eat?
The Common Ostrich is a omnivore — it takes a broad, omnivorous diet of both plant and animal foods.
Does the Common Ostrich migrate?
The Common Ostrich is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Common Ostrich endangered?
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
What sound does the Common Ostrich make?
4 real field recordings of the Common Ostrich — including its song and call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, each credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Common Ostrich's range?
The Common Ostrich has a mapped global range of about 8.6 million km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
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